"We were reluctant to let him go at the time, but Barcelona forced us with the money so to speak."

Klopp laughed and added: "It sounds weird, but we could not afford him."

Bayern Munich will be hoping to see Coutinho rediscover the form he displayed at Liverpool which earned him a move to Barcelona, as they look to defend their Bundesliga crown and progress in the Champions League.

Coutinho could yet come up against Klopp's Liverpool in the Champions League this season, with the Reds defending the trophy they won last term in Madrid.